Development squad thread

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ForestHillBilly said:
U-18's play in the final of the League2 trophy on Monday night, so Saturday won't be my last game at The Valley until Roland goes. Should be a proper Charlton team.
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And a proper Charlton team it certainly was, winning on penalties after extra time. They were outmuscled in the first half, 1-0 down to a superb free-kick, but started to come back towards the end of the half, and were the better side in the second. KAG scored the goal, clipping the ball over the goalie from a clever through ball. He had the ball in the net from a free-kick, but it was chalked off for offside due to he bizarre tactic of placing 3 men in front of the goalie, then they run forward as the free-kick is taken. Pity, the shot was unsaveable. Charlton ramped up the pressure as the game went on but their goalie was in great form, and they might have nicked it but for a magnificent tackle by Konsa, clean as a whistle, on the edge of the 6-yard box. Our 4 senior players Kag, Lapslie, Bone and Konsa scored their penalties and Beeney made two great saves to clinch it.
This game was a reminder what it's like to cheer on a proper Charlton team, to be totally involved and the sheer unreserved joy when we score. They were a team in every sense, one for all and all for one, a stark contrast to the **** we've endured every week from the first team. The goalie releasing the ball straight away to players who wanted it, always options for the man in possession, players who knew each others' game, every one giving 100%, and most of all they really cared about winning. Great stuff, I feel more than happy not to come back until we're out of the ghastly Network.
And another thing- The sight of a long-standing, respected manager on the touchline, giving astute instructions to the players, when was the last time we saw that, when will we ever see that again?
 
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ForestHillBilly said:
And a proper Charlton team it certainly was, winning on penalties after extra time. They were outmuscled in the first half, 1-0 down to a superb free-kick, but started to come back towards the end of the half, and were the better side in the second. KAG scored the goal, clipping the ball over the goalie from a clever through ball. He had the ball in the net from a free-kick, but it was chalked off for offside due to he bizarre tactic of placing 3 men in front of the goalie, then they run forward as the free-kick is taken. Pity, the shot was unsaveable. Charlton ramped up the pressure as the game went on but their goalie was in great form, and they might have nicked it but for a magnificent tackle by Konsa, clean as a whistle, on the edge of the 6-yard box. Our 4 senior players Kag, Lapslie, Bone and Konsa scored their penalties and Beeney made two great saves to clinch it.
This game was a reminder what it's like to cheer on a proper Charlton team, to be totally involved and the sheer unreserved joy when we score. They were a team in every sense, one for all and all for one, a stark contrast to the **** we've endured every week from the first team. The goalie releasing the ball straight away to players who wanted it, always options for the man in possession, players who knew each others' game, every one giving 100%, and most of all they really cared about winning. Great stuff, I feel more than happy not to come back until we're out of the ghastly Network.
And another thing- The sight of a long-standing, respected manager on the touchline, giving astute instructions to the players, when was the last time we saw that, when will we ever see that again?
Click to expand...
Thanks Billy.

Vol and others who have digs at Ahearne-Grant ignore the fact he is still an under-18 and has plenty of time to improve his game.
 
It finished Charlton 4 Bristol City 0 at Greenwich Borough.Goals from Umerah 2 Kennedy and Ahearne- Grant.

Charlton Athletic FC ‏@CAFCofficial 51m51 minutes ago
Charlton U23s | Phillips, Barnes, Teixeira, Bowry, Edwards, Dijksteel, Aribo, Charles-Cook, Kennedy, Ahearne-Grant, Umerah. [HASHTAG]#cafc[/HASHTAG]

Charlton Athletic FC ‏@CAFCofficial 50m50 minutes ago
Charlton U23s subs | Mitov, Lapslie, Millar, Hackett-Fairchild, Yamfam. [HASHTAG]#cafc[/HASHTAG]

Charles- Cook, Ahearne -Granr and Kennedy were replaced by Lapslie, Millar and Hackett- Fairchild.
 
Charlton u23s win 2-1 against a hard working QPR side who went down to ten men after about 30 minutes. Charlton goals came from Hanlan and the trialist Josh Parker who headed home after a good cross from Archie Edwards. A mistake in the Charlton defence gifted QPR an equaliser. Stand out players for Charlton were Edwards, Ba and Konsa who is a class act. The trialist Josh Parker had a decent game and he looks powerful. He finished well for his goal.

Phillips
Assiana, Konsa, Lennon, Edwards
Parker, Ba, Lapslie, Foley, Botaka
Hanlan

Subs Mitov, Yamfam for Botaka, Millar for Foley, Hackett- Fairchild for Parker, Barnes
 
A SOLITARY goal and an excellent goalkeeping performance were the foundations as Boro’s U23s got their first points on the board in the Premier League Cup. Writes GORDON COX from Bootham Crescent.
Determination was coursing through the veins of the Boro players if the opening exchanges were any guide as two players found themselves in the book in the opening 12 minutes.

Plenty of energy was on show from both sides, Charlton managed by ex-Boro player Jason Euell, but neither side found it easy to create a clear chance.

That is until the 23rd minute when Karlan Ahearne-Grant was sent clear through the middle and was denied by very smart goalkeeping Aynsley Pears.

That lead to three corners in quick succession for the visitors, followed a few minutes later by two more.

A young Boro side, including a smattering of U18s for the first time, coped well enough and had appeals for a penalty turned down when Callum Cooke fell under challenge.

An excellent delivery from Ben Liddle sent Joao Morelli away just right of centre, but a low shot from the Brazilian was well saved by Dimitar Mitov.

Pears was back in action again a minute later as Charlton broke quickly, tipping over a powerful shot from Regan Charles-Cook.

He was seen to good effect again a few minutes later, diving away to his left to push away a low drive from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild.

The final act of the first half almost brought a goal as Charlton struck the bar with a free-kick from the D.

The visitors started the second half in a positive fashion, penning Boro back in their own half.

Paul Jenkins’ side coped with what was thrown at them and grew into the half, though it took more smart handling from Pears to hold onto a deflected shot that made life difficult.

Chances still proved elusive, until the game exploded into a flurry of activity in the closing minutes.

With 82 played Ahearne-Grant drilled a free-kick into a defensive wall just inside the area. Referee Andrew Miller adjudged handball and pointed to the spot.

Ahearne-Grant took the penalty and Pears, watched by proud dad, Boro legend Stephen, produced a superb save diving away to his left.

A minute later Boro were in front as they swept forward, Charlton failed to clear and Bryn Morristucked home the loose ball from close range.

Boro were forced into a change deep in injury time when Cooke limped off and was replaced by Junior Mondal, but there was still time for more action.

Fittingly it was Pears who was involved, diving away to his left to turn away a close-range shot from Hackett-Fairchild.

Scorer Morris 84

Middlesbrough: Pears; Hegarty (Morris 75), McGhee, Elsdon, Kitching, Wheatley, Liddle, Johnson, McAloon, Cooke (Capt.) (Mondal 90+3), Morelli. Subs: Fryer (gk); McGoldrick, Maloney.

Charlton Athletic: Mitov; Ba, Edwards (Yamfam 90+1), Dijksteel, Yao, Bowry, Charles-Cook, Lapslie, Ahearne-Grant, Kennedy (Capt.), Hackett-Fairchild. Subs: Prall (gk); Assiana, Millar.

Referee Andrew Miller

Bookings
Boro Wheatley 2, foul; Johnson 12, foul
Athletic Edwards 61, foul.

Conditions Cold and dry
 
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I've stopped watching the U-18's but there doesn't appear to be another Gomez or Lookman, or even a Cousins or a Poyet coming through, although AHLL or Dickp can correct me if I'm wrong. We were bundled out of the Youth Cup early on by Stevenage, very poor by recent standards. We know that Roland has "invested" money in the Sparrows Lane facilities, but could it be that our reputation as a basket-case club is preventing parents from sending their talented kids to Charlton? If so we have a huge white elephant, which has plunged our club into debt. After Lookman there is no cash cow for Roland's grasping mitts, although players like Holmes and Magennis would give him some comparatively small change. When he realises this there could be a fire-sale before he gets rid.
 
I have not seen enough of the U18s this season to give a definitive answer. With the U23s I have high hopes for Lapslie, who has been playing right back, Aribo and Djiksteel. Umerah has the physique but he needs to hone his technique.
 
He played for us last season as a defensive midfielder but he has been converted to a ball playing centre half by Euell. He is not great in the air but he is quick and can pass it. He would have been on the bench on Saturday against Scunthorpe.
 
I went to see the U23s yesterday win 2-1 against Sheffield Wednesday with goals from Doughty and Ahearne-Grant. Jason Pearce played a full 90 minutes and was solid. He also never stopped organising the back four. Stand out players were Djikisteel and Lapslie in midfield. Was also very impressed with Doughty, who is just 17 and Bowry who was very solid at centre half. The U23 are everything the first team are not, well organised and well coached. A great depth of gratitude goes to Academy director Steve Avory, U18 Coach Sergei Baltacha. U23 Coach Jason Euell. They are a pleasure to watch, they go about their business in a quiet and professional way.

Team
Beeney,
Barnes, Bowry, Pearce, Edwards
Carter, Lapslie, Djikisteel, Doughty
Hanlan, Ahearne-Grant

Subs. Prall, Yamfam, Nathan Fox,Millar,Diedrick-Roberts.
 
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